Nick McLaren

Did you miss me? I missed you. Come on over here and let me give you a big hug. That’s better. Ok awesome, now with that out of the way I have a few updates for you.

I finally have a couple of songs near completion, which will be released simultaneously. It’s a big of an experiment with two different styles, and the first song was actually originally written by my best friend Billy McDaniel many years ago. He never released it, as it’s a very dark themed song essentially about being in at the rock bottom and wanting to end it all, told in 1st person. Still, I thought the song ROCKED and set out to put my own spin on it. I ran it by Billy and, with his permission, will be releasing it in the next few weeks or so.

Due to the very dark nature of the first song, and not wishing for my friends and family to think that I’M at the end of MY rope, I set out to write another song with the intention of it being more of a hopeful counterpoint to the first. This one is presented from the viewpoint of a friend or support person, trying to make the first person realize that things are what they are and you’ve got to just accept them and roll with it.

Of course, that’s just MY take on the songs as I put them together. You’re highly encouraged to think about them however you’d like and enjoy them just the same. Hopefully can appreciate them in any case, maybe even LIKE them!

Look for an update here as I get ready to release these in the coming weeks. Until then!

It’s that time of year already! The wife and I are headed out soon for a few weeks of fun with family and should be back around the 10th of January. From our family to yours, we hope you have a very happy and safe holiday season!

In other news, I started working on a Twisted Roots cover song yesterday that I think is coming along well enough that I’ll probably post sometime late-January or February, if those guys don’t mind of course. I’m by no means out of songwriting ideas of my own, but I rather enjoy playing around with other songs that inspire me. Twisted Roots, while having an entirely different sound to my own, inspires me. They represent an important part of my life both musically and personally, plus they’re pretty cool guys too. Definitely check out their music if you get the chance, and expect my version to be slightly… interpreted.

Here’s quick teaser:

See all of you in 2010!

Reflecting back on the past ten years, now that 2010 is rapidly approaching. There’s something weird that happens to time once you get out of high school, like somebody hit the fast-forward button! Still, it’s been a great decade, and I’ve inevitably evolved a ton over the course of it.

Let’s hit the highlights in brief shall we?

• 10 years ago, my son was 3
• 4 years ago, I met the woman that was to become my wife
• 3 years ago, I moved to San Diego
• 1 year ago, I turned 30 (ok, almost two years ago..)
• In April of this year, I began writing my own music..

I’m really content with the way things have turned out so far. Here’s hoping that the next decade is even better! Things certainly do feel brighter!